Stretching through Tasmania’s Central Highlands, the Highland Lakes Road (Route A5) offers one of the island’s most scenic—and least‑traveled—north‑to‑south routes. We have always been prone to taking the roads less travelled and the A5 looked like a great way to travel from the Cradle Mountain area and towards the south of Tasmania. 

From Deloraine to New Norfolk (where we stayed for the night) it was about 2 hrs 30 minutes drive and around 193 kilometres. 

Minimal traffic along the way lets you pull over to enjoy views, alpine lakes, and wildlife without crowds. You will be at around 1200 metres above sea level, so expect icy conditions at any time of except mid-summer, and even then it was cold. We drove the route in end of February. 

Pine Lake Walk is a great stop on the way. Stop at Waddamana, Tasmania’s first hydroelectric power station (commissioned in 1916), now a museum with original Pelton wheel turbines and control‑room displays. Wildlife, including wallabies, wombats, and occasional deer, may appear on the road, especially at dawn or dusk. Fill up fuel—services are sparse along the plateau.

The Highland Lakes Road isn’t just a scenic shortcut—it’s a journey across Tasmania’s wild heart. From alpine lakes and fishing towns to the birthplace of the island’s hydro revolution, the road invites exploration at a pace where beauty meets history. If you’re chasing the real Tasmania, this road delivers.